I think those are, in part, two separate issues: The $600/week fed bonus on top of whatever unemployment your state provides indeed allowed minimum wage earners who qualified for unemployment to take home much, much more than they would if they were working. That holds true for many people who make quite a bit more than minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage in most states to the usual number cited of $15/hr would not have completely closed the gap between a person’s normal earnings and what they received in unemployment benefits from state and fed in most cases.
Either way, such a substantial bonus from Uncle Sam was poor public policy as it used a one-size-fits-all approach rather than scaling the amount by linking it to average earnings or even whatever amount an individual qualified for in state benefits. I believe Congress chose expediency over getting it right, or somewhat better tuned. However, if Congress was not so dysfunctional they could have done both.
Hey Joe, your folks need to cover both their noses and their chins with their masks – but a funny punch line on a very good cartoon. Thanks for the laugh.
The federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13, which is ridiculous. The employer is supposed to make up any difference between wage+tips and the non-tipped minimum wage and I’m sure that this rule is adhered to completely. /s
The cry against minimum wage is always falsely represented as jumping up to $15 in one leap. Every minimum wage plan I’ve seen has a gradual rise over several years, but jerks like Puzder (former CEO of Hardee’s) said he would raise prices to cover the leap to $15 as if it was enacted the first year, plus he was going to add 15% extra (guess he thought he needed a raise too).
Someday people like Steve Mnuchin and Mitch McConnell might figure out that giving billions to large corporations is pointless if nobody can afford to buy the products but I’m not counting on it. Even Henry Ford knew it and he was not known for his philanthropy.
When the robots take over (and for you obliviots out there, it’s already well under way), people are going to need a way to live that doesn’t always involve having a job that pays a wage/salary. The conservatives are going to fight that every step of the way because they seriously believe it’s wrong and unnatural and unfair to those who do work. Totally ignoring, for instance, that they are very much in favor of having a stay-at-home-wife in every family (yeah, not “spouse”, because they really are that far out of touch). And liberals are going to want to institute some form of negative income “tax” or automatic welfare program.
I dunno what this will come to, and at my age, probably won’t live to see it anyway, but I bet it’ll be a really exciting process.
Make them stay home and make masks and sell them . . . . would that create jobs and save the G.O.P. time with having to find excuses not to pay money so people can eat. Right Moscow Mitch ? We don’t want any voting before the elections. Might look bad . . .
martens over 3 years ago
No Fair!! That’s a logical response to the problem and Congress doesn’t DO that kind of thing.
guyjen2004 Premium Member over 3 years ago
I think those are, in part, two separate issues: The $600/week fed bonus on top of whatever unemployment your state provides indeed allowed minimum wage earners who qualified for unemployment to take home much, much more than they would if they were working. That holds true for many people who make quite a bit more than minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage in most states to the usual number cited of $15/hr would not have completely closed the gap between a person’s normal earnings and what they received in unemployment benefits from state and fed in most cases.
Either way, such a substantial bonus from Uncle Sam was poor public policy as it used a one-size-fits-all approach rather than scaling the amount by linking it to average earnings or even whatever amount an individual qualified for in state benefits. I believe Congress chose expediency over getting it right, or somewhat better tuned. However, if Congress was not so dysfunctional they could have done both.
brwydave Premium Member over 3 years ago
Hey Joe, your folks need to cover both their noses and their chins with their masks – but a funny punch line on a very good cartoon. Thanks for the laugh.
Nantucket Premium Member over 3 years ago
The federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13, which is ridiculous. The employer is supposed to make up any difference between wage+tips and the non-tipped minimum wage and I’m sure that this rule is adhered to completely. /s
The cry against minimum wage is always falsely represented as jumping up to $15 in one leap. Every minimum wage plan I’ve seen has a gradual rise over several years, but jerks like Puzder (former CEO of Hardee’s) said he would raise prices to cover the leap to $15 as if it was enacted the first year, plus he was going to add 15% extra (guess he thought he needed a raise too).
DrDon1 over 3 years ago
Typical ‘trickle down’ GOP thinking — Screw the working classes!
mikemck over 3 years ago
Someday people like Steve Mnuchin and Mitch McConnell might figure out that giving billions to large corporations is pointless if nobody can afford to buy the products but I’m not counting on it. Even Henry Ford knew it and he was not known for his philanthropy.
Patjade over 3 years ago
People should be dying by going to work! Er, dying to go to work. Other people are dying to shop! The gods of the economy demand sacrifices!
moosemin over 3 years ago
Get rid of CONTRACT jobs!!!
Concretionist over 3 years ago
When the robots take over (and for you obliviots out there, it’s already well under way), people are going to need a way to live that doesn’t always involve having a job that pays a wage/salary. The conservatives are going to fight that every step of the way because they seriously believe it’s wrong and unnatural and unfair to those who do work. Totally ignoring, for instance, that they are very much in favor of having a stay-at-home-wife in every family (yeah, not “spouse”, because they really are that far out of touch). And liberals are going to want to institute some form of negative income “tax” or automatic welfare program.
I dunno what this will come to, and at my age, probably won’t live to see it anyway, but I bet it’ll be a really exciting process.
Radish the wordsmith over 3 years ago
Republicans are killing the country. The people will have a chance to make them extinct in November.
Radish the wordsmith over 3 years ago
The Love of Money is . . . over 3 years ago
Make them stay home and make masks and sell them . . . . would that create jobs and save the G.O.P. time with having to find excuses not to pay money so people can eat. Right Moscow Mitch ? We don’t want any voting before the elections. Might look bad . . .